As we further ourselves into the growing world of MMA, we recently took the opportunity to sit down with up-and-coming Invicta fighter, Alyssa Vasquez. Alyssa is just starting to emerge as a force in the MMA world, but this single mother and military servicewoman has already started to make a name for her self having fought the likes of Fallon Fox.
Alyssa shared some of her thoughts on her upcoming fights and her emergence into the world of mixed martial arts.
How did you get started into the world of MMA/fighting?
I’ve always loved to fight, even as a kid. I used to have a rule that I wouldn’t go six months without getting into a fight, and it was never for aggression, it was just for the rush and the thrill. Whenever I saw it, my first MMA match, I just thought ‘wow! I want to do that!’.
Who was your biggest inspiration for getting into MMA – both on a professional and personal level?
Getting into it, I didn’t really have anyone that I was looking at, honestly. The only real ‘professional’ that I knew about had to do more with WWE – so, it wasn’t until recent years that I actually started doing my homework on a lot of fighters.
Initially, I didn’t know enough about the UFC and MMA to really to have an idol in the fight game – but, I did have a number of local fighters, who were also soldiers, that I would watch. They were professional, but they weren’t like anyone who was in the UFC.
I understand that you’re a single mom. Has that presented any challenges to your ascension into the fight world? Or has it only galvinzied your conviction?
The only drawback is that, I will say that my kids will always win out over fighting. If there ever came a time where I had to choose one or the other, there’s no doubt in my mind that they will always come first.
On the flip-side, I will say that whenever I am training it eats up the time that I have when my kids aren’t here. This is my really productive outlet – I don’t really go to bars or socialize much. MMA is how I fill that empty space. So, for me it’s productive because it honours them.
With your military background, did you find that any of the training that you received was really transferrable or acted as springboard into your entry of the world of MMA?
Well, that was one thing that actually did kind of propel me. I got my first taste of combative when I was in drill sergeant school, and I know a lot of people cringe when they hear: ‘oh army combative, I love beating those guys up because they think they know MMA’, but it really did (prepare me). It showed me a little bit as far as grappling and rolling, and I was at the time just unfamiliar with any kind of martial art or anything – so, for me that I was my first taste of anything like that. The combative element of it definitely.
I guess for me the biggest element that transferred over from my military career, was the baseline cardio and baseline fitness. You’re never really allowed to get out shape, and that really helps you out.
What do you feel is the most important technique to have honed down in today’s world of MMA?
I hate to give the chliche answer, but I would think that you would want to have a good grasp of jiujitsu. These days we rarely have any fights that stay on the feet and just slug things out, it’s typically going to go to the ground. If you can’t be offensive on the ground you have to at least know how to be defensive. You need some kind of back-up to standing.
When you’re preparing for a fight, how do you train?
This is something I’m in the middle of, and is something that I have never done before. In the past, I’ve been training since 2008 and fighting since 2009, I’ve been somewhat disrespectful to the sport as I never took training too serious and have just kind of done everything on my own – basically just a heavy bag on the ground in my own house and pounding on it. I call it ‘gutter and solo’, but that’s kind of how I’ve been. Nothing really consistently. The fact that I actually am with an actual fight camp and I am training consistently – I am really excited to see where my fight game is going to go, because in the past there was no routine. Before it was always like, ‘hey guys, do you want to go roll after work?’
What would you say has been the most defining fight in your career to-date?
Honestly, the one that probably stands out, I know this is going to sound really crazy, but with where I am at in my fight game, I would really have to take it all back to my first fight. It was a loss, but it humbled me in so many ways. I went into it really thinking that: ‘I had more heart than she did and I’m going to wear her out, and I’m a soldier’. I wasn’t arrogant, but I was way too cocky and I went in there and she got me in the first round. I went back to my hotel room and cried and cried – it was like this insane rush that I knew I loved.
Would you also consider that your most difficult fight?
I’m always going to say the Fallon Fox (was my most difficult) fight. She was the strongest person that I ever faced. It was so quick, that it was over before it started.
I would probably say my toughest fight was my very first victory. That probably has more to do with where I was in terms of my physical fitness and where I was, so maybe that’s why it seemed so hard at the time. We went almost the full three rounds, and I barely got a TKO towards the end of the third round. I was just wrestling with a pit bull and I couldn’t get her to break like I wanted to.
Knowing that you’ve fought Fallon Fox (the transgender MMA fighter), what’s your take on her presence in women’s MMA given her background?
I’m just going to speak honestly and let the chips fall where they may… My personal opinion, I completely disagree with the road that she took with not being open with her opponents (hiding her gender background). I understand why she lied, but being one of those opponents I completely despise that I didn’t get an opportunity to make a choice in that fight like Alana Jones did.
Honestly, I don’t see this ending well. I see what Invicta has done for out sport and so quickly. I know females were fighting before Invicta, but it open the flood gates for us and opened the door for us, and Dana White noticed us. It was a true respect for the sport, whereas before people were always thinking mud wrestling and jello fights… People said, ‘wow these chicks can really stand and bang gloves!’
I will always be worried that as long as Fallon Fox is a part of the sport that there is some sort freak show aspect to it. I understand that her heart is in fighting, but I don’t see how this could ever end the way she wants it to end.
With respect to Fallon Fox, did you notice a significant difference in her strength and performance?
This is one of those things that could go both ways. You could say that she had the advantage because she trained harder than me, which very well may be true. However, anybody will tell you, and I am not trying to sound arrogant, but I am one of the bigger stronger females in my weight class and I will never ever say there was not an unfair advantage. I personally felt it. I just remember thinking ‘that was the fastest, strongest person I’ve ever faced’.
If you could face anyone in the world today, who would it be?
Leslie Smith. I know that’s an odd answer, but she’s just one of those characters – you know, I’m quiet and she’s not.
Ronda Rousey – is she the real deal?
I think it’s hard to argue with her results, regardless of how she is winning. I can’t say that she doesn’t deserve to be the face of women’s MMA. If it wasn’t her it would be someone else.
Some people say that ‘she didn’t come from our Invicta loins so she didn’t work her way up’. I have no problem with her being respected or the figurehead for women’s MMA.
Top 3 best fighters in the world right now?
I am definitely going to have to go with Cyborg (Cris Santos), Anderson Silva… and even though people don’t like the way he fights, I’m going to go with GSP.
Who is your favourite fighter to watch – both male and female?
Female, I would have to say Cyborg. I watched my first fight of hers live recently and I can’t even explain it. Her aura and her presence were just unreal. I was just thinking: ‘wow, this is Cyborg!’ She is definitely my female top fighter.
Male, Don Frye.
We want to thank Alyssa for taking the time to talk with us, and share her candid thoughts and opinions. We honestly do feel that she is a true inspiration for those within and coming up in the sport today. We look forward to her next fight, and seeing her start rise in Invicta and beyond.
Follow Alyssa on Twitter: @LeeLee_Vasquez
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below. You can follow me on Twitter: @lastwordmark and the site @lastwordonsport
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